Plating machine automatic work shift



June 9,- 1931. c. c. MILLER 1,809,136

PLATING MACHINE AUTOMATIC WORK SHIFT Filed June 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Constantine. G M61567.

June 9,- 1931. c, MILLER 1,809,136

PLATING MACHINE AUTOMATIC WORK SHIFT Filed June 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Constantine G. Miller.

June 9, 1931. c. G. MILLER 1,809,

PLAT ING MACHINE AUTOMATIC WORK SHIFT Filed June so.- 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONSTANTINE G. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MEAKER COMPANY,

' A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS I'LATING MACHINE A'Q'TOMATIC WORK SHIFT Application filed June 30,

This invention relates to chromium plating machines, and particularly to an automatic work shift for intermittently moving the work rods supporting the articles to be plated thru a plating tank.

I have found that it is possible to plate with chromium automatically. in a machine if the work rods supporting the articles to be plated are stopped in the plating tank and while so stopped, are put in circuit with an electric current of predetermined density for a predetermined period of time.

This invention is directed to an automatic intermittent work shift which moves the work rods through a plating tank in such manner that a rod is stopped while in the tank and put in circuit with an electric current, and at the same time, another rod is being delivered to said tank and a third one removed, the rod being delivered and the one being removed being insulated so that no current passes through the articles supported by these rods.

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic intermittent work shift for plating tanks which is eflicient and certain in operation.

Another object is to provide an automatic work shift which is sturdy, durable and capable of severe and continuous use.

Another object is to provide an automatic intermittent work shift for plating machines which is positive in operation for small as well as large pieces and for heavy as well as light articles to be plated. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic work shift for plating machines in which the articles to be plated are automatically delivered to a plating tank, moved to a position of rest over said tank, and while at rest, are placed in circuit with a plating current, the current then bein cut ofi, and the articles withdrawn.

he above, further and other objects will be apparent from the following description, drawings andappe'nded claims.

The invention includes a reciprocating rack bar arranged adjacent the plating tank having fin ers for engaging work rods carried along t e top of the tank on trackways for 1928. Serial No. 289,591;

the accompanying drawings, and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the receiving end of the plating machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the delivery end of the plating machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the plating section with certain parts shown diagrammatically and with the rack shown in dotted lines in its initial position and in full lines at the end of its travel for the first half cycle of its movement.

Figure 4 is'a fragmental end view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmental top plan view of one of the plating tank trackways.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the trackway of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the rack and its operating mechanism shown in relation to the plating tank trackways and the main conveyorchain of the machine with the rack in its initial position.

Figure 8 is a vertical section through a current controller.

Figure 9 is a vertical section at right angles to the section through Figure 8 of the controller.

Figure 10 is a development of the drum of the current controller.

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical section on line XI-XI of Figure 3.

The work shift mechanism of this invention is susceptible of use in a plating machine described in my co-pending application, Se

rial No. 289,588, filed June 30, 1928. I The plating machine comprises a, frame consisting of vertical members 1 and'2 with top and bottom members 3 and 4 joined at intervals by cross members.

Tanks 5, 6 and 7 are arranged in the machine for preliminary steps of washing, rinsing and the like, prior to the delivery of the articles to the plating tank.

A conveyor chain 8 is supported on and carried on rollers 9, 10,11 and 12, one of which is driven through gearing from a main shaft 13.

The shaft 13 is driven continuously during operation of the machine.

Transfer conveyors 69 consisting of endless chains passin over rollers 70 and 71 are arranged to trans er the work rods from one tank to the next as the same move through the machine.

The transfer conveyors are driven from the main shaft 13 by beveled gears 22 meshing with the roller 71'of the several transfer conveyors.

Theplating section of the machine comprises a plating tank-20, a transfer conveyor 21 which delivers work rods to the tank 20, and a transfer conveyor 22 for removing the rods from the plating tank.

The bottom run of the main conveyor chain 8 passes along the tops of the several tanks to move the work rods through the tanks from one transfer conveyor to the next.

The plating section has a plating section trackway arranged slightly above the bottom run of the main conveyor chain 8 so that the work rods supported on this trackway may Y be moved independently of the main conveyor chain 8.

The trackway comprises end section 23 of insulating material and a central bus-bar sec-' tion 24, and another end insulated section 25. There are two of these trackways, one on each side of the plating tank.

The rods 26 are provided with slides 27 near the ends thereof which slides have flange: 28 for guiding thesame along the trac ays adjacent the tanks ahead of the plating tank and also along the plating tank trackway.

A work rod 26 is delivered to the front end of the plating tank 20 by the conveyor 71 onto the insulated sections 23 of the trackway in the first or A position.

The rod is then moved to the 2nd or B position, where it engages the bus-bar section of the trackway, and while in engagement with the bus-bar section, is at rest to receive an electric current, as hereinafter described.

When the rod has been at rest a sufficient len h of time in the B position, it is moved to t e C position, that is, onto the insulated end section 25 of the trackway, whence it is removed by; the transfer conveyor 22 to a rinsing tan I My invention contemplates a plating machine wherein a novel work shift mechanism is provided for the plating tank section of the machine.

The object of the work shift mechanism is to receive a work rod and its suspended articles to be plated and quickly move it to a position of rest in the tank, in which osition the plating is done and then qulckly move the rod from said position to another position where it is withdrawn from the tank. i

The transfer chains are so timed that a rod is picked up as soon as moved from plating position and another rod is moved into platlng position. The rod being delivered to the tank does not enter same until the plating time has practically elapsed.

The work shift mechanism of this invention comprises a rack bar 29 suitably supported in the frame structure of the machine. A finger 30'is pivoted near one end of the bar and a finger 31 is pivoted near the other end of the bar. These fingers are arranged to pivot in one direction only and restrained against pivoting in the opposite direction.

The initial position of the rack bar 29 is that shown in dotted lines at the left of Figure 3.

The rod 29, being in its initial position, receives a work rod 26 in the A position from the transfer conveyor 71 whereupon the rod is moved to the right, pushing the work rod into the 2nd or B position, moving it from the first insulated section 23 onto the bus-bar section 24 of the trackway. The rack is then returned to its initial position and remains at rest for a predetermined period of time.

While the rack is at rest in this initial position, an electric current of predetermined density is supplied to the bus-bar section of the trackway for plating the articles suspended from the work rod in the B position.

The next cycle of movement of the. rack 29 moves the rod in the B position to the C position, and another rod in the A position to the B position by engagement of the fingers 31 and 30 respectively with these rods.

This cycle is continued as long as there are any articles to be plated.

The rack 29 is actuated by gear 32 on a shaft 33 supported in the frame structure of the machine. A pinion 34 is keyed to shaft 33 and is in mesh with a second rack 35 suitably supported on the framework of the machine for reciprocation in a direction parallel to rack 29.

A lever 36 is pivoted at 37 to the frame and has connected to its other end at 38 a pitman 39 which is connected at 40 to the second rack 35.

Intermediate the ends of the lever 36 is pivoted a roller 41 for engagement with a cam recess 42 in a cam 43, which, in the present instance, is shown as rotated by a shaft 44, being driven through said shaft by suitable mechanism.

The shaft 44 extends crosswise of the machine and has a cam 43 at each end thereof.

A sprocket wheel 45 is carried on the supplied to the bus bar 24 and through it wale shaft and a sprocket chain 46 passes over the sprocket wheel;45 and a second sprocket Zghecl 47 on shaft/i8 of a current controller The current controller49 is driven by suitable gear train 50 from the main shaft 13.

The cam slot 42 of'the cam"4-3 is so arranged that the rod inthe position 'B re mains at rest thereon for a predetermined interval of time, and-during this interval, a current regulated by the controller 49 is to the work rod 26 and the articles suspended therefrom" in the plating bath.

The current ,must 'be continuous, non-flucmating and of substantially constant density to secure uniform and satisfactoryresults.

The insulated ends 23 and'25 of theplat ing trackways make it possible to plate the articles suspended from the work rod'in the B position while a work rod is be'ing' deliv ered to the tank in the A position and another one is being withdrawn in the C position. No current, therefore, can pass through the rods in any position except at the B position, and then only when the rod is brought to rest in this position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A work rod is delivered by the transfer conveyor 71 onto the insulated section 23 of the plating tank trackway into A position, whereupon it is engaged by the fingers 30 on the rack 29 and moved to the B' position. The rack then returns to its initial position where it remainswhile the roller 41 on the lever 36 travels through the circular part of the cam slot 42. During this interval of time, the current controller 49 supplies current to the work rod in the B position and'cuts off the current just before the parts areactuated to move-the slide'29 through another cycle. r The next cycle of movement of the slide 29 moves the rod in the B position to the C position and another rod which has been delivered onto the slide in the A position is moved to the B position. This movement continues automatically as long as the machine remains in operation.

The current controller is connected in the field circuit of a generator of preferably 12 volts out-put. The armature connections of the generator are connected at one end to the conductor 51 to the bus-bar 24 which is the cathode and another conductor is connected to the anodes (not shown) which are suspended in the plating tank 20.

The current controller comprises a drum 52 on the shaft 48 which is driven in the manner before described.

The drum 52 has a conductor strip 53 extending all the way around the drum, with a gap 54 formed in same.

i A fi x edbrush 56 carried on an arm 57 is in 6 5 'cohtact with the strip 53.

' work Movable brushes 58 and 59 carried by arms 60 and 61 are in contact with the shorter conductor strip 53'and ride over the gap 54.

Brushes 58 and 59 may be moved in'either direction to vary the gap between the same in order that the length of time the current supplied to the bus-bar maybe varied.

A hold-down mechanism is provided such as that described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 289,588, filed June 30, 1928, and consists of an arm 62 pivoted at 63 in a cross-head 64 moving in guideways 65 carried on a frame member 66. A weighted end .67 is secured to the arm 62 on the side opposite the pivot 63'so as to normally maintain the armininclined position towards the A positionof the work rod for engaging a work rod as it is moved from the Ato the B position. The end of the arm 62 is forked as at 68 to more readily engage the work rod. When the rod is moved into the B position, as shown in the drawings,'the arm 62 together with its weighted end 67 presses the rod 26 firmly against the bus ba'r 24, thus adding to the efliciency of the electrical is moved from the B position towards the C position, the arm will ride with it, the crosshead rising in its associated guides to permit such action. Further advancement of the rod causes the arm to ride over the rod, when the arm will return to its normal position.

The term work rod as used in the claims is used generally and includes not only the rod per se, but also the pieces of articles suspended therefrom, as well as the suspending means. The claims are to be construed accordingly.

While I have described more or less precisely the'details of construction of my invention, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that changes may be made in the arrangement and proportions of parts and that equivalents may be substituted, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A work shift for plating machines comprising a plating tank, a trackway along said tank, said trackway comprising insulated end sections and a central bus bar section, means for delivering a work rod to the first insulated section of said trackway, a reciprocating rack for moving the rod onto the bus-bar section during one cycle of movement of the rack and away from said bus-bar in the samedirection during the next cycle of movement of the rack, means for removing the rod from the tank after the same has been removed from the bus-bar, and means for reciprocating said rack intermittently whereby a time interval intervenes between the cycles of movement of said rack and during which interval the work rod remains at rest on the busbar.

contact between these members. As'the rod" 2. A work shift for plating machines comprising a latin tank, a trackway along said tank, sai trac way comprisin insulated end sections and a central busar section, means for delivering a work rod to the first insulated section of said trackway, a reci rocating rack for moving the rod onto the usbar section during one cycle of movement of the rack and away from said bus-bar in the same direction duringthe next cycle of move ment of the rack, means for removing the rod from the tank after the same has been removedfrom the bus-bar, means for recipro cating said rack intermittently whereby a time lnterval intervenes between the cycles of .movement of said rack and during which infor delivering a work rod to the first insulatedsection of said trackway, a reciprocating rack for moving the rod onto the bus-bar section during one cycle of movement of the rack and away from said bus-bar in the same direction during the next cycle of movement of the rack, means for removing the rod from the tank after the same has been removed from the bus-bar, means for reciprocating said rack intermittently whereby a time interval intervenes between the cycles of movement of said rack and during which interval the work rod remains at rest on the busbar, means for supplying an electric current of predetermined density to the bus-bar during the interval that the work rod is at rest on the same, said current supply means and said rack actuating means being operated in timed relation.

4. An automatic intermittent work shift for plating machines comprising a plating tank, a trackway along said tank, means for delivering work rods to said tank, means for moving work rods along said tank successively into three positions, said means comprising a reciprocating rack having fingers at the ends thereof, said rack in initial position arranged to receive a work rod against the first finger and on movement, advance said work rod to second position in the tank, said second finger on the rack moving a rod from the sec- 0nd position to the third position during the same cycle of movement, the fingers being arranged to avoid the rods thus moved by the rack after the rack is returned to initial position, means for actuating the rack, and said means being arranged so that an interval of time intervenes between the cycles of movement of the rack.

5. An automatic intermittent work shift for plating machines comprising a reciprocating rack having fingers thereon for moving a work rod in step by step movement through a tank, a gear in mesh with said rack, a pinion connected to said gear, a second rack in mesh with said pinion, a lever pivoted at one end, a pitman connecting the lever and said second rack, and a cam for oscillating said lever, said cambein arranged so that said rack remains at rest For a period of time at the end of every cycle of movement.

6. An automatic work shift for plating machines comprising'a plating tank, a trackway along said tank for supporting work rods, the ends of said trackway being insulated, a bus-bar forming the central portions of said trackways, a rack bar arranged near said track and havin fingers for engaging work rods on said trac (way, means'for delivering a work rod to the first insulated section of said trackway in position to be engaged by a finger on said rack, means for moving said rack in one direction to advance the Work rod engaged by said finger onto the bus-bar section of the trackway, said rack actuating means then returning the rack to its initial position, said rack actuating means being arranged so that an interval of time intervenes between the cycles of movement of said rack, means for supplying electric current to the bus-bar section while a Work rod is at rest thereon, said rack in its next cycle of movement moving the work rod from the bus-bar section to the other insulated section of the trackway and at the same time moving a work rod onto said bus-bar section, means for withdrawing a work rod after the same has been removed from the bus-bar section, the rack actuating mechanism comprising a gear, a pinion connected to said gear, a rack in engagement with said pinion, a cam, levers connecting said cam and said second rack, and driving connections between the current controller and said cam whereby said cam is effective' to stay the movement of said rack while the current is being supplied to said bus-bar.

7. An automatic work shift for plat ing machines comprising a plating tank, trackways along said tank, the trackways having end sections of insulating material and a central section of conducting material forming a bus-bar, means for deliveringa work rod onto the front insulating section of said trackway, means for removing a work rodfrom the rear insulated section of said trackway, a reciprocating rack having a finger at its front end to engage a rod delivered to the front insulated section of said trackway and move said rod onto the busbar section in one direction of movement of the rack, a finger at the rear end of the rack to engage a rod on the bus-bar section and move it during the next cycle of movement onto the rear insulated section of the trackway as said first finger moves a rod onto the bus-bar sec at rest on the bus-bar section, means for supplying an electric current to said bus-bar section while said rod is at rest thereon and said current supply-means and said rack moving means being operated in timed relation.

8. An automatic work shift for plating machines comprising a plating tank, trackways along said tank, the trackways having end sections of insulating material and. a central section of conducting material forming a busbar, means for delivering a work rod onto the front insulating section of said trackway, means for removing a work rod from the rear insulated section of said trackway, a reciprocating rack having a finger at its front end to engage a rod delivered to the front insulated section of said trackway and move said rod onto the bus-bar section in one direction of movement of the rack, a finger at the rear end of the rack to. engage a rod on the bus-bar section and move it during the next cycle of movement onto the rear insulated'section of the trackway as said first finger moves a rod onto the bus-bar sections, means for reciprocating said rack, said means including a gear in mesh with said rack, a pinion attached to said gear, another rack engaging said pinion, and a cam for actuating said second rack,

9. A work shift for plating machines com-. prising a plating tank, a trackway along said tank, said trackway comprising insulated end sections and a central bus-bar section, means for delivering a work rod to the first insulated section of said trackway, a reciprocating rack for moving the rod onto the bus-bar section during one cycle of movement of the rack and away from said bus-bar in the said direction during the next cycle of movement .of the rack, means for removing the rod from the tank after the same has beenremoved from the bus-bar, means for reciprocating said rack intermittently whereby a time interval intervenes between the cycles of movement of said rack and during which interval the work rod remains at rest on the bus-bar, and means for pressing said work rod against said bus-bar while said rod is at rest on said bus-bar, said means consisting of a weighted pivoted arm.

10. A plating machine comprising a tank, a trackway for supporting awork rod in the tank, a reciprocating rack and pivoted fingers thereon for moving a work rod through the tank in such a manner that the rod comes tempolflgrily to rest near the mid portion of the ta 11. A plating machine comprising a tank, a trackway for supporting a work rod in the moving a work rod through the tank that the rod comes to rest on the bus-bar section.

12. A plating machine comprising a tank, a trackway for supporting a work rod in the tank and having a bus-bar section, a current controller in circuit with said bus-ban sec tion, and an automatically operated reciprocating rack formed to advance the rod through the tank in such a manner that the rod comes to rest temporarily on the bus-bar section, said rack and current controller being so coordinated that current is fed to the rod only while at rest on the bus-bar.

13. A plating machine comprising a tank, a work rod, means for so moving said work rod through the tank that the rod comes temporarily to rest near the mid portion of the tank, said means comprising a reciprocating member having pivoted fingers adapted to engage said rod, and means for moving said reciprocating member.

14. A plating machine comprising a tank,

a-work rod, a trackway for supporting said,

work rodin the tank, said trackway having a bus-bar section, means for so moving said work rod through the tank that said rod comes temporarily to rest on said bus-bar section, said means comprising a reciprocating member having pivoted fingers thereon adapted'to engage said rod, and means for moving said reciprocating member.

15. A plating machine comprising a tank, a work-rod, a trackway for supporting the work rod in the tank, said trackway having a bus-bar section, a current controller in circuit with said bus-bar section, a reciprocating member having pivoted fingers thereon adapted to engage said work rod to move said rod, means arranged to move said reciprocating member so that said rod comes temporarily to rest on said bus-bar section, said reciprocating member and said current controller being so coordinated that current is fed to the rod only while in. rest position on the bus-bar.

16. A plating machine comprising a tank, a -work-rod, a trackway for supporting said Work rod in the tank, said trackway having a bus-bar section, meansfor so moving the rod that it comes temporarily to rest on said bus-' bar section, said means comprising a reciprocatory member having pivoted fingers thereon arranged operative to move the rod on the forward stroke of said reciprocating member and inoperative to move the rod on the return stroke of said'reciprocato'ry member, and means to move said reciprocating member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

' CONSTANTINE G. MILLER.

tank and having a bus-bar section, a reciprocating rack and pivoted fingers thereon for so 

